[Episode 128280] [Episode 128280]Things blurred and shifted and Setsuna realized she was falling into the new timeline.
She'd also managed to change things. However, this hadn't quite been the result she'd been aiming for.
"The World Shall Be Cleansed In Fire!
Allegiance Or Death - Big Fire!"
"Indeed, my Senshi," said the Princess in the center of the group. "Allegiance or death. Too long have the nations stood in this thin veneer of a utopia. Our true utopia beckons!"
Setsuna struggled within the bonds of her compulsion but could find no way out. She was trapped. Now she and the other Senshi WERE Big Fire.
The timeline had altered severely back at the end of her fight with Beryl. She wasn't sure what had happened, but the results were obvious. Usagi began using the Ginzuishou regularly. Absolute power and it corrupted her bit by bit.
It had started in fighting the cardians, she'd absorbed their life forces into the Ginzuishou to power it and tried to keep her friends from having to turn away from their normal lives again. She'd hunted down Aiel and Ann before they'd become major menaces and brought the full force of her crystal against them, ripping their life forces away to power it.
The other Senshi had gotten involved eventually anyway, mainly because they noticed the differences in Usagi. When their friend had discovered yet another menace, she'd dealt with it the same way.
From her position of the Now she could see how it had played out. Every battle had seen more and more of the innocent stripped away. Every daimon, cardian, and on - less of the original Usagi remained as she deliberately channelled that away through the Ginzuishou.
There had been a scene, brutal in its emotion, when Usagi had broken her ties with her family. No longer would she be Usagi. She was Serenity and she would eliminate the problems of the world whether anyone wanted to or not. Shortly after that, Mamoru and the other Senshi had gone to her. Ready to attack if necessary, scared at the way she had become from the innocent she had been. She didn't have to fight the Dark Moon alone but she had to stop. She HAD hesitated, the thought of having to fight the very friends she'd sought to spare the battles had been repugnant enough to get that much reaction even at this point.
Unfortunately an idle comment and she'd turned the Ginzuishou on them. Her truest friends. Her lover. She'd killed and then resurrected them, purging them of what she saw as enemy influences. Now they were free to love and worship her. Bound in obedience save a tiny little impotent corner of their minds she didn't have the knowledge to effect. All would be as it should be.
Then she went after the Dark Moon, draining their lives and souls into the Ginzuishou for what she had to do next.
"A shard draws near, my sweet," said the Queen to what remained of her prince. "Go fetch it for me."
Screaming in the little free corner of her mind, Sailor Pluto saw that her Queen was quite insane.
"Japan was conquered years ago, but the combined forces of the rest of the world managed to contain Big Fire there," said Genma, pointing to the glittering speck off in the distance. "The only chance the world had was to get that gemstone from her, and we had to split it up into pieces as soon as we did. If she ever recovers them all, I doubt we'll ever be able to stop her again."
Ranma nodded, the sixteen year old frowning at the glittering light. "Hard to believe something pretty like that is such a menace."
"Foolish boy," growled his father. "Temptation is ALWAYS attractive, but it leads to disaster. That 'pretty' light is glittering on the graves of over five million people. Don't you forget the sacrifices made to such things."
"Yeah, yer old Master," said Ranma.
"He was an evil little man, but he ended up a hero," said Genma. "I was there. I saw him throw the gem clear and then grope the Evil Queen in order to distract her. Even without the gem she managed to sear the flesh from his bones and scatter his remains before the dread Master could even begin to get away. That's why I've tried to make you equal to the Experts Of Justice - so that you can stand at their side and defend the Earth from them."
"They've only sent minor minions out since then, mainly undead," said Ranma. "Looking for the parts of the gem. Maybe they ain't even in there no more."
Sirens began sounding on the ship and the two of them heard the machinery of the turrets moving the guns to new positions. A speck of golden light seemed to be rising from the whiter crystal.
"Boy, it looks like we'll see if your talent matches that mouth of yours," said Genma. "That isn't the Girl Scouts coming."
The ship shuddered as guns began firing. Ranma watched as:
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(Posted Thu, 27 Oct 2005 19:29)
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